Gospel Reflection Nov 19 – Kim VanHuffel
Sunday, November 19
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 25: 14 – 30
Gospel:
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
“After a long time
the master of those servants came back
and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents came forward
bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”
Gospel Reflection:
Today Jesus tells us a parable about the last judgement and what is expected of us. Now, some of you are immediately thinking “Jesus has already won our salvation by his death on the cross and there is nothing we can do to EARN our way into heaven.” That is correct! No, we can’t earn our way to heaven, but God does expect things from us, namely, our loving response to his love. John’s Gospel would say that he requires us to BELIEVE in Jesus. Yes. And, if we believe in Jesus, then we need to listen to, and act on, his words.
In this parable Jesus is telling us, with his own words, that we can’t sit around and be lazy about how we use our talents. That’s what the third man did. Out of fear, he goes and hides his talent. On the flip side of the coin (pun intended), the other two men go out and use their talents to double what they started with. This is the proper use of our “talents.”
The word “talent” in the parable was a form of currency, but it is eluding to the word we have today in the English language, meaning our natural abilities and God-given gifts. We are called to use those gifts boldly and to share them with the world, not hide them away. Action is required! God demands much of those with whom he shares his gifts. And, if we use our “talents” to further God’s kingdom on Earth, he will increase those talents further and help to make us more fruitful in our mission, and we will “share in our master’s joy.”
So, what are your gifts and talents that God has granted you? Do you share them with people, or bury them away, thinking they are not good enough? God is telling us today that we ARE good enough, and we need to share our talents, our gifts, our lives, our faith, our love, all that we have — with others! This is the will of God. And, if we at least try, and put aside our fear, then we can all hope for the day when we will hear “well done my good and faithful servant.”
Kim VanHuffel
Pastoral Associate